LIQUID WASTE HANDLING IN Laboratory
and CLINICAL DIAGNOStICS EQUIPMENT
Introduction
When determining how to transfer liquid waste wit-
hin an analyzer, design engineers must examine many
factors. Though several methods will work, only one
provides optimized system performance and lifetime.
Laboratory and clinical diagnostic applications encom-
pass a wide spectrum of processes, including probe
washing, sample well or couvette emptying and was-
hing, slide staining, rinsing, reagent washing, and gene-
ral draining. Many of these processes generate liquids
that must be pumped to waste. These liquids range from
simple DI water to bleach concentrations, to remainders
from tests that include sticky proteins, magnetic beads
and particles, and chemical reaction leftovers. Additional-
ly, molecular diagnostics involves cell lysing and amplifi-
cation, processes that can include elevated temperatures
and aggressive chemicals. All of these differing proces-
ses and media add complexity to pump selection decisi-
ons. System design engineers are encouraged to talk
with KNF Applications Engineers to be certain the best
pump is selected for the intended function.
There are two main methods for removing liquid waste
from an analyzer: Direct Handling, and Waste Collection
followed by Evacuation.
Method 1 – Direct Handling of
Liquid Waste Application
Liquid pumps can directly handle NOTE
waste fluids, and either transfer
them to a collection tank or pump
them straight to waste/drain. (see
OEM
flow diagram below) The advanta-
ges to this de-centralized approach are: simplicity of
pump control, small pump size, lower pump cost, and
possibly fewer system components. Additionally, the
system is more easily re-configured if flow require-
ments change. Frequently, the same pump model spe-
cified for the probe wash function is also used here for
a better economy of scale, although high pressure
pumps may be the best choice for the washing
function.
A designer should be aware that the pump will be
pressurizing liquid that will probably contain biological
waste, so extra caution should be exercised to prevent
clogging or leakage. Lines should be smooth, as short
as possible, and of the widest diameter possible. Pres-
sure limiting devices should be considered (KNF can
include these in the pump head or as a separate com-
ponent). Pumps are more prone to clogging if shards of
glass or other large debris are present in the fluid.
Filtering upstream from the pump may be necessary to
assure no particles are present (typically >100 microns).
As the media is a combination of liquid and air, the de-
signer may be tempted to consider a gas handling mo-
del. This should usually be avoided because the
incompressible properties of liquids require a pump
designed specifically for liquid service. The direct hand-
ling of liquid waste method requires proper sizing of
the pump(s) and timing of valves to ensure highest-case
flow rates can be handled. One advantage to this me-
thod is increased tolerance to system modifications.
Method 2 – Waste Collection, then Evacuation
Vacuum Over Liquid Collection – Another popular
method involves a centralized diaphragm pump (nor-
mally gas) that develops and maintains a vacuum in a
sealed reservoir, which is connected via solenoid valves
or a manifold to the various liquid lines.
Thanks to recent advances in diaphragm pump techno-
logy, this pump type is preferred over traditional re-
ciprocating piston, scroll, or rotary pumps. Diaphragm
pumps have earned this distinction owing to their ability
to handle the inevitable humid vapors and even liquids
on occasion. Other pump types may be damaged from
this mixed media, however a diaphragm pump can
handle it easily – usually requiring just a simple air purge
to resume normal operation if a gas pump is selected,
and probably no purge at all if a liquid pump is used.
Liquid pumps are usually the pump of choice if the
mixed media flow rates are small (< 5 L/min combined
liquid and gas) while gas pumps are favored for higher
flow rates up to 150 L/min or more. Vacuum may be
maintained in the tank via speed-controlling the pump
to optimize system noise and lifetime, or the pump may
be cycled on and off as required. One benefit of the
vacuum over liquid method is it allows flexibility in
dealing with varying amounts of generated waste.
Multiple lines may be handled by a relatively small
pump if the vacuum needs can be timed properly.
Tank Evacuation, Direct Handling – Once the waste
collection tank is full—as determined by a sensor or on
a quasi-continuous basis for tank size reduction—it
must be evacuated to waste/drain. Again, diaphragm
liquid pumps excel in this application. Direct handling
with a diaphragm pump is probably the most popular
way to evacuate the liquid waste since these pumps
are able to withstand the myriad of accumulated chemi-
cals. In order to generate flow in the proper direction,
KNF Neuberger Inc. ■
2 Black Forest Rd, Trenton, NJ 08691
the pump used in this application must develop a
vacuum deeper than the gas vacuum pump used for
vacuum over liquid collection (typically up to 27 “Hg). A
liquid pump is required for this function, and it may
even be the same pump used to move the liquid to
waste in either of the applications described above. The
advantage to this type of pumping solution is that the
instrument is able to continue processing fluids during
the evacuation process, thus increasing sample
throughput. The diaphragm pump’s vacuum generating
ability remains stable over time, unlike that of a peristal-
tic, piston, gear, or rotary. It should also be more reliable
and consistent than house vacuum, especially if the
vacuum is consumed on a continuous basis.
Tank Evacuation, Pressure over Liquid – An alternati-
ve to direct handling, this solution has the advantage
that the pump is not in contact with the collected waste
and debris. However pressure over liquid is still less
popular because of two possible problems: (1) clogging
downstream of the tank may allow medical waste to
escape outside the containment area, and (2) the
vacuum in the tank must be broken, leading to reduced
throughput.
KNF Diaphragm Pumps for Liquid Waste Handling
■■ Many wetted materials from which to choose
■■ Many motor options, including long-life, brushless
DC with logic speed-control
■■ Liquid flow rates to 6 L/min
■■ Self-priming liquid pumps
■■ Air/Gas flow rates to >150 L/min
■■ Custom OEM projects encouraged
Rev:Jan 2017
A selection of KNF pumps for Liquid Waste Handling applications.
■
609-890-8600 ■
knfusa@knf.com ■
www.knfusa.com